Tourniquet



W. THOMSEN July 7, 1959 TOURNIQUET Filed Aug. 16, 1957 INVENTOR Thomsen Mun/7, Liz/c9, Danie/S 5 [WU/767% ATTORNEYS In l rllllll III United States P ent TOURNIQUET Application August 16, 1957, Serial No. 678,507 Claims. or. 128-327) This invention relates to tourniquets such as are employed to stem the flow of blood when blood vessels are ruptured in a limb.

Aii'object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedtourniquet adapted to be placed about a limb such'as an arm or leg, which tourniquet may be instantly and easily released when this is desired.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved tourniquet as above set forth, which may be quickly and easily applied to the desired area, is effective and reliable in its operation, and which is eflicient in carrying out its intended function.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved tourniquet in accordance wtih the foregoing, which is extremely simple in its construction and economical to fabricate and produce.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification similar characters of reference are used for similar parts in the several views, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the tourniquet, as it would be if applied to an arm or leg.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the tourniquet showing in broken outline the quick-release action.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the buckle portion of the tourniquet.

As shown, the improved tourniquet of the present invention comprises a flexible strap adapted to encircle a limb such as an arm or leg. Attached to one end of the strap 10 is a buckle 12 which is preferably formed of a strong material such as metal. However, it is within the province and spirit of the invention to form the buckle 12 of any suitable strong material, including plastic and other compositions.

The novel tourniquet as herein set forth is so constituted and arranged as to be easily and quickly released when in use on the arm or leg. Also, the construction is such that the tourniquet may be easily and quickly applied to the limb, and in addition to these advantages, the tourniquet is simple in its construction, and economical to fabricate.

In accomplishing the above objectives, the buckle 12 of the tourniquet is constituted in a novel manner, in conjunction with the strap 10. As shown, the buckle has an opening 13 through which the strap 10 may be passed from the inside or underside, so as to form a loop, illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Also, the buckle 12 has a portion 14 bordering the opening 13, over which portion the strap 10 may be folded to hold it against slippage after the strap has been passed through the opening 13.

By the present invention there is provided a novel retention means, engaging the folded portion 10a of the strap 10 for the purpose of keeping such strap portion from unfolding. Such retention means is shown as comprising a finger 16 extending parallel to and spaced from the said portion 14 of the buckle which borders the opening 13. The finger 16 may be advantageously carried by ICQ,

a side marginal portion .17 of the buckle, shown in Fig. 3.

It will be understood from a consideration of Fig. 1, that when the strap 10 is passed through the buckle opening 13 and folded back on itself and under the finger 16, it will be kept from slipping, and when the tourniquet is thus applied to an arm or leg in this manner it will remain taut and apply pressure at the proper or desired place to prevent or limit the bleeding. In connection with this latter, that end of the strap 10 which is secured to the buckle 12 may be folded back on itself and fastened by a rivet 18, and such folded end portion together with the rivet may constitute a protuberant means adapted as clearly to press against local areas of the arm or leg, thereby to eifect the necessary pressure for shutting off the blood supply. I 1

Also by the present invention I provide on the buckle 12 a novel, finger-engageable means for effecting a tilting of the buckle in response to pressure applied to such means, thereby to render the retention finger 16inoperative as a consequence. By such action the strap 10 is permitted to unfold an extent, and such unfolding is suflicient to enable the strap to shift in the opening 13 whereby it becomes loosened about the arm or leg, thereby relieving the pressure applied to the localized spot of the limb.

As shown, such finger-engageable means comprises a tab 19 carried by the buckle 12 and extending angularly upward therefrom in a direction away from the loop of the strap. When the tourniquet is in position on a limb, the tab 19 will project angularly away from the loop 10, and finger pressure on the tab 19 will result in the buckle 12 being tilted, thereby raising the finger 16 and the portion 14 of the buckle. This movement will enable the portion 10a of the strap 10 to unfold an extent, and such unfolding will be suflicient to allow the strap to shift in the opening 13 of the buckle, thereby to enlarge the loop 10 and loosen the tourniquet.

The strap 10 is preferably formed to have an appreciable thickness, and is made elastic and stretchable longitudinally. Such strap may be formed of any suitable fabric construction employing elastic bands or the like, as is well known.

It will be noted from Fig. 1, that the finger 16 has a free end or extremity, and by this construction the strap portion Illa may be easily slipped under the finger 16 when applying the tourniquet to the afflicted arm or leg. I have found that a tourniquet made in accordance with the above construction holds securely once it is properly placed about the limb. Also, the tourniquet may be instantly, easily released when this should be desired.

The application of the tourniquet is facilitated by the provision of the novel retention finger 16 having the free end as shown, and when the buckle 12 is formed of a heavy sheet metal or a strong plastic it may be easily fabricated by known production methods. Accordingly, the entire tourniquet may be easily and economically produced, and is seen to be extremely simple in its construction.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A tourniquet comprising a flexible strap adapted to encircle a limb; a buckle secured to one end of said strap, said buckle having an opening through which the strap passes from the inside to form a loop, and having a portion bordering said opening, over which the strap is folded to hold it against slippage; retention means on said buckle, engaging the folded portion of the strap at its outer surface, normally to keep the strap from unfolding;

and: finger-engageable means. on and rigid with said buckle, to effect, solely a tilting, thereof in. response to pressure on said means, thereby to render said retention means inoperative whereby the strap unfolds an extent and is;e nabled:to:slip through the said opening.

2. A tourniquet comprising a flexible strapya'dapted to encirclea limbr a-bueklesecured'torone end of said strap, saidbuckle havingjan opening, through, which the, strap passes from the inside to-form. a, loop, and having a portion bordering. said opening, over which-the strap isiolded to hold, it against slippage; retention means on. said buckle, engaging; the; folded portion of the strap at its outer surface, normally to keep the strap from, unfolding; and finger-engageable means; on said buckle, to efiect a tilting thereof, in respons'e; to pressure on said means, therebyto rendersaid retention means inoperative wherebythe strap unfolds an, extent. and. is enabled to slip through the said opening, said retention means comprising a finger on thebuckle, extending parallel to and spaced from the said portion of the buckle bordering the.

,opening.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the portion bordering said opening, overwhich the strap-is folded to hold it against slippage; retention means on said buckle, engaging the folded portion of the strap at its outer surface, normally to keep the strap from unfolding: and finger-engageable means on said buckle, to eifect a tilting thereof in response to pressure on said means, thereby to render said retention m'eans inoperative whereby the strap unfolds 'an extent and is enabled to slip through the said opening, said retention, means comprising a fingerorr the "buckle, ixtending parallel to, and spaced from the said portion of the buckle bordering; the opening, and said finger-engageable means comprising a tab on the buckle, extending angularly upward therefrom in a direction awayfrom, the;saidloop of'the strap.

5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which the strap is elastic and stretchable longitudinally.

References Cited- I in the file or this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

